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Florida Vacation - Days 4 and 5

Ok, I was so exhausted last night that I did not blog, so today's blog is a twofer. Yesterday was Wet N Wild day (WW), again with the alarm clock. But, at least was 8 and not 6:30. The only shuttle to WW left was at 9, so it was that or a cab.

We had a beautiful day for the water park, high 80's, low humidity, and sunny skies. We rode Brain Wash, Black Hole, and Disco H2O (first ride I can ever remember screaming on - even Jason commented that he had never heard me scream before). We hung out in the most unrelaxing lazy river I have been in, for a very short while. It was more like running with the bulls than lazy and relaxing. Most of the kids in the river did not have tubes (because you had to rent them) and they were pushing, jumping, swimming past people, etc. But, besides that, everything else was great.

We had lunch, relaxed, rode water rides, got wet, and were back in our room around 3. And of course, we were down at the pool after we returned :-) Showers, dinner at Margaritaville, and the new Fantastic Four movie finished out our night. Both of us were sleeping around 10:00.
Today, there were no plans, yeah!!! We went shopping - Ron Jon, Steve & Barry's, Bass Pro Shop, World of Denim, etc. I am happy to say that I paid for lunch and bought Jason a pair of shoes ($15). Nothing for me!!! Okay, for anyone who knows me, that is a miracle. I think I am getting better at mall shopping and not buying anything since I have moved to field sales. Most of my nighttime, after dinner activity is mall walking. And, usually, I try to stick to bargain stores, that way if I buy anything at least I won't spend much.

Again, we hung out at the pool and we are just relaxing before our 5 minute walk to dinner. We fly back home tomorrow and I am ready. This has been a great vacation, fun, relaxing, great weather, and the perfect amount of time. But, tomorrow is back to reality and Monday is back to work - I still have $400,000 in sales to close by the end of June.
Saturday June 16, 2007 - 04:47pm (EDT)
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Florida Vacation - Day 3

The alarm went off at 6:30 am this morning which I was not thrilled about, after all aren't you supposed to sleep in on vacation? Well, after the never ending waits yesterday at Universal Studios we were going to take full advantage of our early bird pass to Islands of Adventure today and even though I was not thrilled about getting up early I am so glad we did. By 9:30 we had breakfast, ridden the Hulk coaster twice, the Spiderman ride twice, and got drenched in two water coaster rides. By 11:15 we hade ridden everything we wanted to and never waited more than 10 minutes for anything.

We went to lunch at NBA City and went back to IOA for games and shopping. Jason won a NC Tar Heel ram stuffed animal shooting baskets and we both bought some shirts (yes, he had to save his own money for spending on this trip). Walking back past Spiderman on our gaming and shopping rounds the bright digital sign showed a 75 minute wait - suckers, hee hee!!

We were back at the hotel shortly after 2 and headed down to the pool. We swam and hung out until some big fluffy clouds swept in and blocked the sun with no evidence of leaving for awhile. So we headed back up to our room for showers and dinner. Dinner was pancakes at IHOP, other than the breakfast buffet this morning at the hotel, IHOP was the cheapest meal we have had yet. I can't seem to find any cheap food and I am trying to stay away from the fast food route. So, since we have a kitchenette, we at least bought a box of cereal and some milk to cover breakfast the next three days.

Tomorrow is our last completely sunny day, so we are planning on Wet N Wild. After the busyness and fun of the last three days we may be sleeping all day Saturday .
Thursday June 14, 2007 - 07:07pm (EDT)
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Florida Vacation - Day 2

We headed off to Universal Studios this morning. Because we slept in and took our time, we didn't have time for a lengthy breakfast and caught the 2nd to last free shuttle to the park. We stopped at the Cinnabon on Citywalk for a shared cinnamon roll and bottle of water before continuing our adventure.

We started with Shrek 4-D, it was very cool, the theatre shook and moved, the action on screen was all over the theatre and in your face with our Ogrevision glasses, we were even sprayed with water. We then headed to Twister, which was okay, I am pretty sure if I hadn't ducked from the fire explosion I would have singed my eyebrows, since Jason and I were in the first row.
Off to lunch at Bubba Gump's and then some shopping. We were both on a very strict rule of pre-shopping, but no buying. Neither of us wanted to carry anything, all buying was done on the way out as we headed back to the hotel.

Back to Universal Studios for the Blues Brothers show and the Mummy ride, it had the most unusal line I have been in, halls, rooms, stairs, bridges, you never knew when you were actaully going to get to the ride. But, it was worth it, the ride was awesome.

Jason did get to play some games and we decided we didn't want to wait 35 and 40 minutes for Jaws and Jimmy Neutron, so we made our way towards the exit after going through many stores along the way. Of course with the rain now on top of us, we were diving under trees and coverings.

We had a fantastic dinner at Orlando Ale House and are now winding down for showers and bed. Tomorrow and Friday are supposed to be sunny, so I think we will get up early tomorrow, go to breakfast, and head over to Islands of Adventure early. Since we get to go in an hour before regular admission maybe we can ride some of the big stuff without the long lines.
Wednesday June 13, 2007 - 08:57pm (EDT)
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Florida Vacation - Day 1

We flew into Orlando last night to overcast skies, but I have been watching the weather for a few days now and know there are some storms heading this way. So, that was not a surprise and there is nothing we can do about the weather. We should still have plenty of sunshine and hot weather while we are here.

While I was checking reviews of the hotel, there were maybe 60% good and 40% bad, so this is something that I have been a little concerned about before we got here, but the room will really be for clothes storing and sleeping. So, as long as it is acceptable I am cool with it. So, saying that, we got to our room smoothly, we got the keys to the room, I am praying as we approach the room "please be a nice, clean room", slide the key in the door, light turns green, push handle down, door does not budge. That's right, we could not get in the room. Back to the lobby for room number 2, again praying, slide key, door opens, yeah! Okay, not to be fussy, but the tub faucet will not stop unless I lift up the shower thingy (the technical term) and there are water bubbles in the ceiling above one of the beds. By the way, this is a Holiday Inn not the Motel 6. So, I think I can deal with this and we go to dinner. After we finally order dinner I decided to try to switch rooms again, but this time I am going for upgrade.

So, fortunately the manager happens to be the one who asks if he can help me, I tell him my situation in a very nice manner (it's not that I can't deal with my room, but if I can get something nicer then I will take it), plus I am a Priority Club member, and I stay in Holiday Inn hotels every week. Is there any way we can discuss a price to upgrade to a suite? $20 a night and I can upgrade (usually $40/night), done and ready to dance!!! So after dinner, we get ready to switch rooms again, slide key in door, turn handle down, door won't open again. Well, I have a suite now, so I don't want to change rooms, I just want to get into my 3rd room. New keys, an engineer, and I am ready to go again. Engineer guy turns the handle down, nothing, lifts it up, nothing, lifts it up and then down, door opens. Our room is so secure you need a special turning code to get in it - LOL. I like this room so much better - 4 rooms and space for our 5 day stay.

I didn't sleep real well last night, but I am looking forward to today. Due to the storms that are forecasted we are starting with Universal Studios since I could not find any evidence of any water rides. Stay tuned for more tomorrow...
Wednesday June 13, 2007 - 09:14am (EDT)
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Good blog...

No bitch-log today. I think blogs are great for getting frustrations off your chest, I could dig deep on the very crappy soccer season we are ending 6 years on, the non-stop picking up after everyone else (like we don't all do that), but all of that would be digging deep.

Instead, I am in a great mood, everything seems to be lined up correctly, I have lost 5 pounds and I am 10 days from my first vacation of the year....Jason and I are heading to Orlando for 5 days. The closest I plan on getting to Disney is Downtown Disney, but we are hitting everything surrounding Universal Studios. We did Disney when he was 4 and spent one day at Islands of Adventure, so this time, now that he is almost 11, he can ride everything and he is sooooo past Disney. I also have a week off at home the first week of July, sales meeting at the end of July and a long weekend in Niagara Falls in early August. Okay, so the sales meeting isn't a vacation, but I just love seeing everybody and having a good time outside of the meetings. I will miss the Sersol people dearly though, luckliy I got to hang out with them in Baltimore in March though.

Anyway, one of the great things about this job is that travel slows down tremendously in the Summer, so I can spend more time at home. It does, make it harder to close business when everyone is on vacation, but I do what I can and enjoy the slow time.
Life is good, everything is great, and there is no complaining to be found here for once :-)
Saturday June 2, 2007 - 03:45pm (EDT)
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Nosey people

Well, it has been a tumultuous couple of weeks. Ira and I seem to get more and more pressure about getting married. It's becoming a bit difficult to deal with, but we are both in agreement that it is really nobody else's business when we decide to take that lifelong step.

It seem like over the past couple of weeks it has just been soming up more thanusual, Ira was told by our pastor not to expect to be in anymore of the church dramas, becuase due to our living situation he would not be a reputable public face of the church. There have been more and more questions from our church friends whom just natually assumed we were married. And, frankly that is not anything that I have lied about or attempted to mislead anybody on. For cryin' out loud I even got questioned at a soccer game in Chicago from one of the soccer mom's. Why is it so hard for people to just keep their inquiries, comments, and opinion to themselves?

I think my explanation is pretty valid....Ira has some sordid details to his life due to his children, child support, and his financial situation that needs to be cleared up before we can even consider marriage. This does not mean that our faith, love, dedication, or committment to each other waivers. We have both been married and divorced, entering into marriage again is not something we take lightly. Why is that so hard for people to understand? We are essentially married in every possible way except in the eyes of God and on a piece of paper. In fact, we have been together longer than some married couples I know.

I just hate the questioning and the feeling that some people find it necessary to leave us out of couple activites simply because we have not stood at an alter and taken vows.
To each their own, I guess... I just hate being judged this way.
Sunday May 20, 2007 - 08:31pm (EDT)
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One sided friendships

Maybe I just had too much to think while driving today, but I feel like I hit a brick wall. Keep in mind that this does not apply to everybody, but it applies to more people in my life than not and that is what has me thinking about it. So, here goes and yes, I am probably going to cry while I type this.

I have had a lifetime of one-sided friendships, I am assuming everyone has some friendships like this, maybe not as many as I have, but some. You know, the friend that you are always reaching out to, calling, inviting to lunch/dinner, movie, calling, but, you don't hear from them first. They are only there when you call them and even then there may be a lot of excuses or reasons on why they cannot talk, meet, etc. Now, you may say, well honey, they just don't want to be around you. In some cases, that is true and we all have people we avoid and people who avoid us. But, I am talking about the people that in their best moments you honestly believe is one of your best friends and you just like to be around them. As, you can see it has different layers.

Now, my problem is that most of my friendships look like that. Great friends in the times that are convenient for them, but when you need them, they are never anywhere to be found. Or, how about the one's that you invite out and the reasons always seem to be there on why they can't go, but lo and behold they found time for another friend. Or, you ask them to do something they can't do for you, but can find the time for another friend.

Invitations to parties...too far to drive, too busy, no response, you name it. But, don't even think about not showing up for their get together. I could invite 15 friends on my side and 15 on Ira's - 2 would show up on mine and 13 would show up on Ira's.

Now, I know life gets in the way, trust me I do understand that more than most. Traveling every week, soccer, Jason, church, you name it. My life is busier than most. So, why is it I go out of my way to be there for friends that on their lightest day would not show that loyalty to me.

We had 2 other couples that we were best friends with, 3 out of 4 of the people in those couples I had known since elementary school. Without the details, I will just say something happenend between the two couples and they decided they could not be friends and that included with us either, even though we were not involved and knew nothing about what was going on. I mourn the death of those friendships every day. In fact that mess happened 3 years ago this month. How do people treat friendships like that as dispensable? How do you turn away some of your best friends when you may need them the most? I do not understand that.

My bridal shower was thrown by my Mom and then to be Mother-in-law. 4 baby showers - 2 work , 1 from my Stepmom, and 1 from Jess's Aunt. You guessed, it mostly family at those 2, in fact I thinkn there was only 1 friend at those two combined.

I admit that I do not let myself into friendships easily, I am super cautious after being burned so many times, but once I enter into that friendship it has become an investment and I guarantee you will not find a more loyal friend anywhere. I would drop anything, anytime to be there for a friend if they needed me.

But, just once I would like that from somebody else. Now, I admit, it is hard for me to lean on somebody or ask for help, but aren't friends supposed to reach out and help you whether you ask for it or not. At least offer, right? (Oh, your Dad almost died, gee, sorry to hear that. Hello??? WTF kind of response is that?)

So, my question is why don't I have that? Never had that? Why can I count my really, true friends on a couple of fingers? At this point, I want to keep everyone at an arm's length and accept that I am going to live my life without somebody I can call up to go to a movie or that will call me to go shopping or go have a beer.

Please do not respond with, "You're great, you are strong, frun to be around, blah, blah, blah." Because if that was all true, then I would not be in this situation typing this. Am I too strong, to picky, intimidating, annoying, egotistical, negative, judgemental? What is that I do that tends to repel people? The very few people that have seen me breakdown, always say that I am one of the strongest people they know that to see me cry confuses them and they are not sure how to handle it. So, am I that person that everyone else leans on and it is just assumed that I don't need anybody? Well, I will tell you that that is not the case. I am human, I am female, I have feelings and I do hurt too. Maybe more than most people, see, know about, or understand.
And yep, I cried while typing the end of this.
Thursday May 17, 2007 - 10:29pm (EDT)
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I hate being sick

I am not one to get sick on a regular basis, but when I do get sick I take it to a whole new level. In the past three days I have had a persistent sore throat, vomiting, diahrrea, passed out twice, and slept alot. I have also sat through 2 soccer games (couldn't make the third), went to a birthday party, and went to a comedy benefit. I am pretty sure after a non-stop Saturday that is why I passed out Sunday morning, my body said enough is enough.

So, I am feeling better, I went the doctor today to get an antibiotic for my throat this afternoon and I leave for Evansville in the morning. No downtime for the driven, I have sales to close.
Monday May 14, 2007 - 09:29pm (EDT)
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Numbers, decimals, get it out of my head

Jason had a bunch of make up math homework tonight, fortunately I made him start re-doing some of the problems a few days ago. I only made him start doing it because he had it all wrong and I wanted him to understand it. Well, little did I know that his teacher wanted him to re-do it too, in addition to his homework tonight. 5 pages of decimal multiplication and metric conversion later and I can no longer think straight and poor Jason has a headache. He went to bed and he/we still have 1 more page to get done before school tomorrow. Before he went to bed he just kept saying thank you, it was soooo sweet.

I am ready to just veg, watch tv, and not think about anything. I am hoping that I don't have dancing numbers in my dreams.
Monday April 30, 2007 - 10:06pm (EDT)
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Technology

First off, I know it's been a while, I've been busy :-)
I was just thinking how great it is to have the technology that we have today - IM, e-mail, cell phones. Do high school and college kids just realize how luck they are? How many people did we graduate with that we didn't stay in touch with because they moved or their number changed? But, now through e-mail, blogging, IM, and cells information is changing less often and we can honestly stay in touch people after moving, graduations, changing jobs, etc.

I have had three friends leave PQ to go onto bigger and better things and of course, both of them felt it necessary to move out of state. Now, as much of a bummer that this is I still know that I will talk to them. Maybe not on a regular basis, but they are always an e-mail or phone call away.
Plus, they are all on my LinkedIn list, so if necessary we can hunt each other down :-)
Friday April 20, 2007 - 08:20pm (EDT)